Does the cold make MS symptoms worse?

Lisa, a regular reader from Wales, has asked me to start a conversation about temperature. I know we’ve talked about hot temps on a couple of occasions. Lisa, along with a few others I have talked to recently, experience worsening symptoms with the cold weather.

I’ve talked to a few MS professionals, and this doesn’t make sense to them. I don’t feel bad telling you that, I too have trouble trying to figure that one out as well.

I look at the nervous system as a very complex electrical system. We all know to keep our computers and stereo systems cool. We also know that electronics don’t run well when it’s hot. If our bodies get too warm, our “electrical” system slows down too. That makes sense to me.

The cold thing, however, I can’t think of a physical reason for such an increase in disease activity. Maybe there is something to that.

Is it new disease activity you are aware of in the cold or worsening of existing symptoms? I know that heat causes something called a pseudoexacerbation. Not that the symptoms aren’t real (different usage of pseudo), but it seems that the heat makes existing damage more evident. Is that what those of you who seem to be cold-intolerant are experiencing?

We all know that MS is a personal disease; each of us has symptoms and experiences that are unique to ourselves. We also know that many symptoms that are reported individually do not sink into the collective conscious of the medical community. If cold sensitivity and MS are something that enough of us are experiencing, then we really need to make a concerted effort to make that one known to the pros.

So, here we go…Do you find real MS symptoms worsening in cold weather? If so, what effect does the cold seem to have? How long have you had this issue? Have you spoken to your MS neurologist about it? What have they told you?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Trevis Gleason

Trevis L. Gleason is a food journalist and published author, an award-winning chef and culinary instructor who has taught at institutions such as Cornell University, New England Culinary Institute and...read more